Cheers and jeers, the week that was

Published 12:00 am, Friday, May 16, 2014

The work week is over and it’s time for a look back on what was and what should have been.

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CHEERS… to the St. Louis Regional Airport and general manager David Miller for breezily hosting Vice President Joe Biden’s entourage of aircraft and equipment this week. Miller said, “The whole thing has really kind of been a non-event for us.” Kudos to the airport for being so well-run it’s barely a disruption when the vice president comes to town.

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JEERS… to Vice President Joe Biden. Not only did Biden’s visit require an immense police presence and cause significant traffic disruptions to area residents, he also did not allow media access while he was in Alton. So the public, excluding the folks that paid thousands of dollars to attend the fundraising dinner for Sen. Dick Durbin where Biden spoke, has no idea what he said or really did while he was in town.

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CHEERS… to the YWCA of Alton and this year’s Women of Distinction award recipients. The YWCA and the award recipients do amazing work and are pillars of our community. We are truly lucky to have these leaders working to improve the lives of area residents.

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JEERS… to Illinois House Democrats who continue to waffle about the extension of the state’s income tax increase and to Illinois House Republicans for lacking an alternate budget plan. According to an Associated Press report, Thursday’s budget debate spiraled into childish exchanges like legislators making signs at their desks reading “temporary?” and “Got Plan?” A 6th grade Model United Nations group operates with more dignity and productivity than our elected officials.

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CHEERS… to Alton City Council for voting to rehire Police Chief Jake Simmons. There was much debate whether Simmons met residency requirements to keep the position. We feel that Simmons does a fine job at his post and to deprive the city of his leadership because of a technicality would be a shame.

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JEERS… to Old Man Winter. He needs to be put in his place - the past. This week saw frigid temperatures and much rain. While we know farmers could be cheering the rain this planting season, we’re itching for for some higher temperatures.

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THE WEEKLY WHAT: It’s curious that Madison County Auditor Rick Faccin continues to target Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler given the tax sale saga of Prenzler’s predecessor Fred Bathon. Prenzler might have a different modus operandi than his predecessor — netting less bang for buck than Faccin would like — but every time Faccin targets Prenzler he reopens the tax sale wound and reminds everyone that Prenzler is not anything like the man currently serving time in prison for his role in the tax sales. It all seems rather petty, political and poorly conceived.